The drive from West Sedona, AZ to Yuma, AZ covers 293 miles and takes about 5h 32m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Blue Star Memorial Highway, Arizona Veterans Highway, Bob Stump Memorial Parkway for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 113.8 miles on Blue Star Memorial Highway.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $58.37 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
146.5 miles from West Sedona, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 52m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 32m. Total distance: 293 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 32m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
Expect a 5h 32m drive with frequent turns across 293 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 59 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Blue Star Memorial Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 113.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.8 miles in near AZ 179 / Red Rock Scenic Byway.
Driving Effort10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 32 significant decision points across 293 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2.8 miles (AZ 179 / Red Rock Scenic Byway): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 17.1 miles (AZ 179): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 93.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 32 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
2.8 mi into trip|~6m in|AZ 179 / Red Rock Scenic Byway
Enter roundabout onto AZ 179 / Red Rock Scenic Byway
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
7
17.1 mi into trip|~31m in|AZ 179
Take the exit onto AZ 179 toward Oak Creek Canyon, SR 179, Sedona
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 298
Toward Oak Creek Canyon, SR 179, Sedona
7
93.1 mi into trip|~1h 48m in
Take the exit toward AZ 303 Loop South
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 221
Toward AZ 303 Loop South
7
128.4 mi into trip|~2h 29m in
Take the exit toward I 10 West: Los Angeles
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 104B
Toward I 10 West: Los Angeles
8
139.9 mi into trip|~2h 42m in
Take the exit toward AZ 85: Yuma, San Diego
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 112
Toward AZ 85: Yuma, San Diego
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between West Sedona, AZ and Yuma, AZ, road signs point toward Oak Creek Canyon, Sedona and San Diego.
Oak Creek Canyon
17.1 mi in|~31m|via AZ 179
Sedona
17.1 mi in|~31m|via AZ 179
San Diego
139.9 mi in|~2h 42m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Blue Star Memorial Highway
113.8 mi
1h 57m
Arizona Veterans Highway
52.9 mi
52m
Bob Stump Memorial Parkway
32.2 mi
37m
Arizona State Highway 85
28.5 mi
33m
Red Rock Scenic Byway
14.3 mi
25m
Black Canyon Freeway
13.9 mi
14m
Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
10.5 mi
11m
Phoenix–Cordes Junction Highway
5.8 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
Blue Star Memorial Highway
— 113.8 mi, about 1h 57m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between West Sedona, AZ and Yuma, AZ.
1
Start on Andante Drive
0.3 mi·1 min·Andante Drive
2
Turn left onto AZ 89A
2.3 mi·4 min·State Route 89A
3
Continue on AZ 89A
0.1 mi·9 sec·Prescott–Flagstaff Highway
4
Enter roundabout onto AZ 89A
89 ft·1 sec·Prescott–Flagstaff Highway
5
Continue on AZ 89A
323 ft·4 sec·Prescott–Flagstaff Highway
6
Enter roundabout onto AZ 179
11 ft·0 sec·Red Rock Scenic Byway
7
Continue on AZ 179
0.3 mi·50 sec·Red Rock Scenic Byway
8
Enter roundabout onto AZ 179
69 ft·0 sec·Red Rock Scenic Byway
9
Continue on AZ 179
0.5 mi·58 sec·Red Rock Scenic Byway
10
Enter roundabout onto AZ 179
92 ft·1 sec·Red Rock Scenic Byway
11
Continue on AZ 179
0.6 mi·1 min·Red Rock Scenic Byway
12
Enter roundabout onto AZ 179
107 ft·1 sec·Red Rock Scenic Byway
13
Continue on AZ 179
1.4 mi·3 min·Red Rock Scenic Byway
14
Enter roundabout onto AZ 179
80 ft·1 sec·Red Rock Scenic Byway
15
Continue on AZ 179
0.4 mi·57 sec·Red Rock Scenic Byway
16
Enter roundabout onto AZ 179
112 ft·1 sec·Red Rock Scenic Byway
17
Continue on AZ 179
2.9 mi·6 min·Red Rock Scenic Byway
18
Enter roundabout onto AZ 179
81 ft·1 sec·Red Rock Scenic Byway
19
Continue on AZ 179
0.6 mi·1 min·Red Rock Scenic Byway
20
Enter roundabout onto AZ 179
94 ft·1 sec·Red Rock Scenic Byway
21
Continue on AZ 179
0.2 mi·22 sec·Red Rock Scenic Byway
22
Enter roundabout onto AZ 179
100 ft·1 sec·Red Rock Scenic Byway
23
Continue on AZ 179
0.3 mi·36 sec·Red Rock Scenic Byway
24
Enter roundabout onto AZ 179
108 ft·1 sec·Red Rock Scenic Byway
25
Continue on AZ 179
7.0 mi·9 min·Red Rock Scenic Byway
26
Take the exit onto AZ 179
0.2 mi·21 sec·AZ 179
Exit 298Toward Oak Creek Canyon, SR 179, Sedona
27
Merge onto I 17
53 mi·52 min·Arizona Veterans Highway
28
Continue on I 17
5.8 mi·5 min·Phoenix–Cordes Junction Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
29
Continue on I 17
10 mi·10 min·Black Canyon Freeway
Use the straight / right lanes.
30
Continue on I 17
3.2 mi·3 min·North Black Canyon Highway
Use the slight right lane.
31
Continue on I 17
3.4 mi·3 min·Black Canyon Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
32
Take the exit
0.5 mi·38 sec
Exit 221Toward AZ 303 Loop SouthUse the slight right lane.
33
Turn right onto AZ 303 Loop
0.6 mi·1 min·AZ 303 Loop
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
34
Take the exit
0.6 mi·45 sec
35
Continue on this road
411 ft·7 sec·this road
36
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·21 sec
37
Merge onto AZ 303 Loop
0.2 mi·12 sec·Bob Stump Memorial Parkway
38
Take the exit
0.7 mi·47 sec
39
Continue on this road
0.3 mi·19 sec·this road
40
Merge onto AZ 303 Loop
32 mi·36 min·Bob Stump Memorial Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
41
Take the exit
1.0 mi·1 min
Exit 104BToward I 10 West: Los AngelesUse the slight right lane.
42
Merge onto I 10
11 mi·11 min·Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
43
Take the exit
1.1 mi·2 min
Exit 112Toward AZ 85: Yuma, San DiegoUse the straight / slight right lanes.
44
Continue on AZ 85
3.6 mi·5 min·South Oglesby Road
45
Continue on AZ 85; US 80 Hist
1.0 mi·1 min·Gila Bend-Buckeye Highway
46
Continue on AZ 85
28 mi·33 min·Arizona State Highway 85
47
Take the exit onto AZ 85
0.6 mi·1 min·Gila Bend-Buckeye Highway
Toward AZ-85 South: Gila Bend
48
Continue on AZ 85
0.3 mi·43 sec·Arizona State Highway 85
49
Continue on AZ 85
2.4 mi·5 min·East Pima Street
50
Take the exit onto I 8 Bus; US 80 Hist
0.7 mi·1 min·I 8 Bus; US 80 Hist
Toward I 8 West: San Diego
51
Merge onto I 8
114 mi·1 hr 57 min·Blue Star Memorial Highway
52
Take the exit
0.2 mi·27 sec
Toward Giss Parkway
53
Keep slight left at fork
189 ft·4 sec
54
Enter roundabout onto Harold C Giss Parkway
251 ft·4 sec·Harold C Giss Parkway
55
Continue on Harold C Giss Parkway
0.6 mi·1 min·Harold C Giss Parkway
56
Enter roundabout onto Harold C Giss Parkway
120 ft·2 sec·Harold C Giss Parkway
57
Continue on Harold C Giss Parkway
0.3 mi·36 sec·Harold C Giss Parkway
58
Turn right onto I 8 BUS; US 80 Hist
0.3 mi·35 sec·South 4th Avenue
59
Arrive at destination
I 8 BUS
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 146.5 miles from West Sedona, AZ, or about 2h 52m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 113.8 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 64 miles or 1h 18m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 146.5 miles or 2h 52m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 37m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Yuma, AZ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving West Sedona, AZ so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from West Sedona, AZ
This is one driving day of about 293 miles and 5h 32m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 64 miles from West Sedona, AZ.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Blue Star Memorial Highway for about 113.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 146.5 mi from West Sedona, AZ
· 2h 52m into the drive
The midpoint is around 146.5 miles from West Sedona, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel check
Top up before Blue Star Memorial Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 113.8 miles.
Arriving in Yuma, AZ
The final approach into Yuma, AZ usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Yuma, AZ.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Montezuma Castle National Monument
National Monument
Established December 8, 1906, Montezuma Castle is the third National Monument dedicated to preserving Native American culture. This 20 room high-rise apartment, nestled into a towering limestone cliff...
Water flows under and through this landscape, feeding the growth of people and towns. The Verde Valley is watered by snowmelt, summer monsoons, and springs that well up from the ancient sedimentary ro...
Since time immemorial, Indigenous Peoples have lived and traveled throughout Walnut Canyon’s dynamic landscape. Vibrant communities built their homes in the cliffs and farmed along the canyon’s rim. T...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$58.37 one way
$116.74 round trip
$5.06/gal25.4 MPG avg103 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.36
$61.77
$123.54
premium
$5.59
$64.49
$128.99
diesel
$5.61
$64.69
$129.38
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$58
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$83–$108
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 102.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $31 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
87.9
1
$30.76
$14.06
Efficient EV
73.3
0
$25.64
$11.72
EV Truck/SUV
117.2
1
$41.02
$18.75
Gas CO2
103 kg
EV CO2
34 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
West Sedona, AZ
Evening
in West Sedona on Friday
Local time
7:02 PM
MST
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Yuma, AZ
Evening
in Yuma on Friday
Local time
7:02 PM
MST
Current temp
87°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
40 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
5h 32m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from West Sedona, AZ to Yuma, AZ covers 293 miles and takes about 5h 32m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Blue Star Memorial Highway, Arizona Veterans Highway, Bob Stump Memorial Parkway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 146.5 miles from West Sedona, AZ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $58.37 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a demanding drive. With 32 significant decision points across 293 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 2.8 miles (AZ 179 / Red Rock Scenic Byway): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 17.1 miles (AZ 179): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 93.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Between West Sedona, AZ and Yuma, AZ, road signs point toward Oak Creek Canyon, Sedona and San Diego.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Montezuma Castle National Monument, Tuzigoot National Monument and Walnut Canyon National Monument.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
